Joe Van Slyke: 1951 - 2007

Sid Smith, Tribune arts criticCHICAGO TRIBUNE

His onstage manner was low-key, refined, even patrician, a demeanor laced with effortless gentility and flinty humor.

But veteran actor Joe Van Slyke, 55, who died early Monday at home in Chicago after a 17-month battle with lung cancer, also delivered awesome emotional fireworks, as he did in his electrifying 1993 portrayal in "The Price" at the National Jewish Theater.

"He was elegant, understated, sophisticated and intelligent," said Northlight Theatre artistic director B.J. Jones, who staged "The Price." "He was an old soul."

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company's James Bohnen said, "He could scare the daylights out of you in a role like Hirst from Harold Pinter's 'No Man's Land.'"

Mr. Van Slyke was an artistic associate at Remy Bumppo.

An eminent craftsman, Mr. Van Slyke ranked as one of the busiest and most dependable actors in Chicago during the three decades he worked here, up to and including his final job in May in a musical workshop at Northwestern University. Over the years, he played roles in such productions as "Mrs. Warren's Profession," "Twelfth Night," "I Hate Hamlet," "Ten Little Indians" and "Quartermaine's Terms." He also had roles in film and TV.

He worked at most of Chicago's professional theaters, including Northlight, Steppenwolf Theatre, the Goodman Theatre and Victory Gardens Theater. His beautiful singing voice landed him musical roles, including "Cabaret" at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire.

"I think most of his subtle delineation of character and his wry wit," said Don Brearley, a colleague and his roommate since the time of his diagnosis. "And his gift for language."

Born in Minneapolis, Mr. Van Slyke joined the Actors' Equity Association in 1978 while playing Sherlock Holmes at Park Forest's Illinois Theatre Center.

He is survived by two sisters, Judy Peabody and Mary Bernier; and three brothers, Paul, James and David.